Research with Native American and Indigenous Populations

Articles

Misalliances in the Barrow Alcohol Study

This article by Foulks (1989) discusses a research survey of the use of alcohol among the Inupiat of Barrow, Alaska in 1979 and the detrimental effects of how the research was conducted on the population. This report is an example of the political and ethical dilemmas a research team encountered during a study with an Indigenous population.

Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board (NNHRRB)

NNHRRB uses a twelve-phase review to approve all research protocols involving human subjects. This article gives a step by step process of how to submit those research proposals. Several scholars found this article useful for understanding how different tribes have their own policies when it comes to research, with this one being specific to the Navajo Nation.

Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP) Commentary

In January 2013, Linda Forrest suggested that the SIP collect stories at the conference in June 2013 to shed light on the differences in worldview regarding ethics when working with a Native population. Scholars found this commentary useful when learning about the major differences between European and Indigenous approaches to research in psychology. Scholars also found value in knowing that different tribes set their own guidelines for researchers coming into their communities.

Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Research Protection Act

This article gives an in-depth description of the process one must go through to conduct research using human subjects with the turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa It is important to understand that research conducted within the Tribe’s Territory and involving their members has the potential to harm and the process must be regulated. Many scholars found this article useful when understanding that tribes have the inherent sovereign authority to regulate the conduct and activities on all lands within the jurisdiction of their tribe.

Parent Voices: American Indian Relationships with Schools

Robinson-Zanartu and Majel-Dixon (1996) conduct a survey of 234 American Indian parents and community members across fifty-five tribes or bands to document their attitudes about education, satisfaction with schools, the degree to which schools value Indian culture, involvement with schools, and school expectations with their children. Scholars found this resource helpful for hearing Indigenous parents’ voices when they are discussing their children’s education. In the methods section, researchers discuss how the data was collected as well.

Guides

Keeping Research on Track: A Guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

This guide helps people become more familiar with different stages in research when working with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This booklet can be used as a reference when making decisions about health research and respecting the shared values of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Research that Benefits Native People: A Guide for Tribal Leaders

This guide that the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) (2009) created is to help ensure that research occurring in the community is in support of the health, education, and well-being of Native people. This is one module of five that addresses concerns of making better decisions about proposed research in communities and provides tribal leaders to protect communities from harm.

PowerPoint Presentations

Open Access Documentation and Revitalization of Kumiai in Mexico

This PowerPoint emphasizes the importance of language documentation and language revitalization, specific to the Kumeyaay (or Kumiai or Diegueno) Yuman language family. Researchers share their findings and how they received permission to record, publish or archive any data. This presentation shows findings of phonological and lexical diversity across five Kumeyaay communities in Baja, CA.